The Bull Hotel, Fairford

The old Bull Hotel was in dire need of an upgrade and fortunately at the hands of Sebastian Snow and his wife Lana it has recently been transformed from a tired market town hostelry into a stylish pub/restaurant with rooms. This was no easy task as it is a big rambling building (formerly a 15th-century monks’ chanting house, then a coaching inn) on multiple levels with no less than 21 rooms. The downstairs is centred around the bar with a giant bull’s head mounted on the wall to oversee proceedings. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to sit in and make your own – choose from tables in the cosy library with an old priest’s stairwell in the corner, or settle into one of the much sought after window seats (make sure you bag one of these for breakfast), or relax in the comfy sofas and chairs in the tulip room which features a stunning decorative mural of exotic blooms and a lovely stone whippet lying in front of the open fire. There are bedrooms to suit all, some with handy children’s annexes. The rooms and bathrooms have been very cleverly modernised without sacrificing the olde world feel of the building. The divinely comfy beds are draped with pretty block-printed Indian cotton throws.  The hotel owner is a chef by trade and the food is fuss free and delicious. The focus is on earthy Mediterranean fare with an emphasis on Italian regional cooking using the best local produce along with top quality Italian ingredients. Expect antipasti, homemade pasta, pizzas and hearty, flavourful meat and fish dishes. If you are there for a weekend visit then you can dine at The Bull’s two sister properties, the well-known Five Alls at Filkins and The Plough at Kelmcott. The Bull Hotel is situated on the Market Square in Fairford, which is a pretty market town in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds. The Church of St Mary’s next door is historic and well worth visiting as it features the finest original set of medieval stained glass windows in Britain. There is an excellent audio guide delivered by the likes of Joanna Lumley and the late Alan Rickman.